Paul Ryan Won't Defend Trump. But He Also Won't Unendorse Him.

Huffington Post: Politics

2 месяцев

WASHINGTON ― House Speaker Paul Ryan (R-Wis.) is done defending Donald Trump, but he won’t unendorse him ― at least, not yet.

Ryan told members of Congress on a conference call Monday that they “all need to do what’s best for you in your district,” according to someone on the call. Ryan said he wouldn’t campaign with Trump for the rest of the election, but added that he wouldn’t withdraw his endorsement of the GOP nominee.

“He made clear to members that his decisions are being driven by what is best for his members, not himself,” the source on the call said. “He is willing to endure political pressure to help protect our majority.”

Ryan seems to be suggesting that, if he were on his own, he would unendorse Trump. But he’s also signaling that he sees a negative down-ballot impact for Republicans if he were to pull his support.

The conference call was held Monday after Trump’s 2005 comments came to light where he bragged about groping and kissing women without their consent. Amid a steady stream of Republicans unendorsing Trump, many Republicans are questioning whether they, too, should withdraw their support from the party’s nominee and risk angering Trump’s base and depressing Republican turnout even more. Not unendorsing means forever associating yourself with Trump and telling voters that Trump’s behavior is still acceptable.

GOP leadership has delivered the message that they understand members individually unendorsing Trump could cause an even longer list of Republicans pulling their support, which could make it even more difficult for the members who stand by Trump.

Still, leadership seems to understand the weight that Trump is in some districts, and the strategy is a recognition that this will be a tough election year for House Republicans.